Ministry Statements and Speeches 2008

UNGA Third Committee: Introduction of the Resolution on the Committee on the Rights of the Child

Statement by Nicola Hill on behalf of cosponsors of the resolution, 11 November 2008

I am pleased to introduce the resolution on the Committee on the Rights of the Child (A/C.3/63/L.46*), on behalf of Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.  Since the resolution was issued, I am also pleased to confirm that Qatar, Uruguay and France, and Chile, Colombia and Andorra, are sponsors of this text. 

Since the initial text was issued, I should note that a corrected version has since been published.  The corrected version is marked by an asterisk and reflects the agenda item and title of the resolution.

With near universal ratification of the Convention, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has to consider the largest number of human rights treaty body reports in the United Nations system. Ratification of Optional Protocols in recent times has only increased this pressure, as the initial reports under the Optional Protocols must be presented separately from the core reports. As a result, there is a backlog of treaty body reports, which could mean that reports are considered by the Comittee up to 3- 4 years after they have been submitted. For all of these reasons, there is broad support for responding to the Committee's request to address this backlog as a temporaary measure, as has been agreed in the past.

 Mr Chairman, there is also broad support for addressing the Committee's request in this procedural resolution on this occasion.  Uruguay, France and New Zealand are assisting this process, and consultations are ongoing.  We expect that a revised text will be tabled as soon as possible reflecting Member States views.

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